2026 Best Value Welding Technology/Welder Schools in Ohio
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the welding technology/welder degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Welding Technology/Welder Schools
Leading the list is Lorain County Community College, our #1 best value for welding technology/welder in Ohio. Set in the suburb of Elyria, Lorain County Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,265, compared with $8,860 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,611 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $40,095. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lakeland Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in welding technology/welder, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Kirtland, Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,872 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,235 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $19,857. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Lakeland Community College generally make around $51,941. That is a strong return on a $19,857 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Clark State Community College earned it the #3 place for welding technology/welder. Set in the city of Springfield, Clark State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,393, with out-of-state students paying around $8,049. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $20,740. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $39,734. Set against $20,740 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Owens Community College one of the best values for welding technology/welder. Located in the suburb of Perrysburg, Owens Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,870, with out-of-state students paying around $10,502. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $19,383 in student loans. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Owens Community College earn a median of $45,785 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Auburn Career Center came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value welding technology/welder schools. Auburn Career Center is a small public school located in the suburb of Concord Twp. Students borrow a median of $10,807 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Median earnings reach $37,032 ten years out. Set against $10,807 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwest State Community College landed the #6 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Northwest State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Archbold. Students from in state pay about $4,698 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,170. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $11,565 in student loans. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Northwest State Community College generally make around $45,123. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hocking College earned the #7 position for value in welding technology/welder this year. Set in the rural area of Nelsonville, Hocking College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,646, compared with $10,290 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $16,535. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $37,713. Set against $16,535 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Great Oaks Career Campuses landed the #8 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Located in the suburb of Cincinnati, Great Oaks Career Campuses is a small public university. Students borrow a median of $6,078 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Great Oaks Career Campuses earn a median of $41,277 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ashtabula County Technical And Career Campus came in at #9 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Ashtabula County Technical And Career Campus is a small public school located in the rural area of Jefferson. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $16,535. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $42,717. Set against $16,535 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Buckeye Joint Vocational School came in at #10 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Located in the rural area of New Philadelphia, Buckeye Joint Vocational School is a small public university. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $25,844.
Polaris Career Center came in at #11 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Polaris Career Center is a small public school located in the suburb of Middleburg Heights. Students borrow a median of $6,365 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Polaris Career Center generally make around $32,228. That is a strong return on a $6,365 median debt.
Lorain County Joint Vocational School District came in at #12 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Located in the rural area of Oberlin, Lorain County Joint Vocational School District is a small public university. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $35,776.
Eastland Fairfield Career And Technical Schools landed the #13 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Located in the suburb of Groveport, Eastland Fairfield Career And Technical Schools is a small public university. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $6,485. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Eastland Fairfield Career And Technical Schools generally make around $39,328. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hobart Institute Of Welding Technology came in at #14 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Located in the town of Troy, Hobart Institute Of Welding Technology is a small private not-for-profit university. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Hobart Institute Of Welding Technology generally make around $45,370. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Warren County Career Center came in at #15 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Located in the rural area of Lebanon, Warren County Career Center is a small public university. Students borrow a median of $8,679 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Warren County Career Center generally make around $38,389. That is a strong return on a $8,679 median debt.
Eti Technical College placed #16 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Eti Technical College is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Niles. Students from in state pay about $11,060 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $12,255. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $27,290. That is a strong return on a $12,255 median debt.
Portage Lakes Career Center placed #17 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Located in the suburb of Uniontown, Portage Lakes Career Center is a small public university. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,316.
Elite Welding Academy Llc placed #18 among the best values for welding technology/welder. Elite Welding Academy Llc is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Cincinnati. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Elite Welding Academy Llc generally make around $38,717.
Fortis College Cincinnati came in at #19 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Set in the suburb of Cincinnati, Fortis College Cincinnati is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $14,763 in tuition and fees. Welding Technology/welder graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. Welding Technology/welder graduates of Fortis College Cincinnati earn a median of $31,899 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fortis College Cuyahoga Falls Cuyahoga Falls came in at #20 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Fortis College Cuyahoga Falls Cuyahoga Falls is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Cuyahoga Falls. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,596. Typical student debt for welding technology/welder graduates is $20,894. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Fortis College Cuyahoga Falls Cuyahoga Falls generally make around $39,990. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ohio Technical College came in at #21 for value in welding technology/welder this year. Ohio Technical College is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. Students borrow a median of $10,334 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Soon after graduation, welding technology/welder degree recipients from Ohio Technical College generally make around $35,508. Set against $10,334 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wayne County Schools Career Center landed the #22 spot for welding technology/welder value this year. Set in the town of Smithville, Wayne County Schools Career Center is a small public institution. Students borrow a median of $9,496 to complete the welding technology/welder program here. Early-career welding technology/welder graduates make about $42,438. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 55 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Welding Technology/Welder](/majors/production-product-development/precision-metal-working/welding-technology-welder/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
